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Kr. Valdemara str. 33
Office 11 (entrance from courtyard)
Phone: +371 67218043
Fax: +371 67218045
info@bccl.lv |
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| November 11 |
| Anita Kalçja at the BCCL Monthly Dinner at the Europa Royal Hotel |
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Mr. Ambassador,
Honoured guests of the BCCL,
Dear members and friends,
Both for Latvia and Britain, 11th November is a solemn day. It is fit, I think, to use this occasion to reflect on the significance of this day, its symbolic effect on the histories of both nations, as well as on our own daily lives.
The inspiration and indeed the symbol of Remembrance Day is a poppy. As John McCrae’s poem captures the immensity of suffering and sacriface made by others for our well-being. I think it is worth quoting:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing,
fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
For different reasons, but November 11th is a day of national grief both in Latvia and in Britain. A sceptic might say that it is much easier to be grateful for the benefits that we enjoy because of the sacrifice of others, than to make our own sacrifice. Perhaps this scepticism has a point worthy of our consideration.
Does a past sacrifice result in a duty that we have to fulfil? I think it does. But most significantly, what can we do? What is that loss of a personal gain that we are ready and indeed should forego in order to make our countries into a better place? How to establish the balance of individual benefits and the common good? We can ask these questions in many different contexts. Our companies are part of a national economy that is clearly in trouble. Can we help and survive at the same time? We as individuals live in a country plagued with social distress. To whom do we turn to for advice as to what requires our attentive care? Finally, we are members in different organizations that deserve to benefit from our sincere efforts.
I think I know some of the answers. I hope that so do you. But many of my questions leave me with no clear guidance.
That makes me turn your attention to our guests -two politicians Artis Pabriks and Aigars Ðtokenbergs. By definition, in times of distress we should rely on the guidance of our politicians. I now give them the floor. I hope that the membership of the BCCL will use this occasion and indeed this day of remembrance, to make judgments about the significance of what is happening with our lives.
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